Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-04
SHARp'S TRIAL.
THE QUESTION OF FIXING" JURORS
BEFORE The COURT.
Specific Charges Made by District Attor-
new MARITIME, Showing Efforts at
cOrruptiOn-OHly Klevon Ju-
rers Obtained.



Attorney Martin today corroboralcd the
statements that attempts had been made by
somebody tO TX The Jurors in ih's case and
tlat VAS The reason for oXcl.iag Ne.srs.
McLcwG and Caldwell he also corrOho-
rstod The report Of an attomut TO corrupt
Nr. Euplcl, 81 ilsrl, m. ara "a IN ne first
panel.
10 reporter Mr.. Peter Mitchell, OF
counsel Tor the d,ftucc. said: "When |
make this statement yon may depend upon
70 tral pave proof ~ Whit | say. and YOU
can hJ money upon r. Eri~sqri,s u the
OistrG attorney have htcI a. work 10 these
eases - 90 10 give abe Imprcs,lo9 mat the
dsicI dsnis have been attempting % Tx tae
juryncn, that they might lock them up.
IlCy >ucctc led Ia The case OF Aldcrm an
OXEN. hrtwc don't propose that they shall
in MIR. Sharp'> case. III, absurd % suppose
that Nr. Sharp or any one in MS employ
should approach MIR. Eup'ci, ~ the district
attorney claims they did, or rs was claimed
IN The O'Ncil ease " Its only an attempt to
prejudice Mr.. Sharp'scI,c. The clerk OF the
count. sitrr the proceedings were opened,
ANNOUNCED that the Witnesses present on
the art Of The people were excused until
Monday morning, which definitely de-
teimiutS th,t the actual trial Of the case
VIII ltl To ElU bti NIf iNat IIiNt, even
though The jury be Obtained before.
After number Of jurors had been ex-
CusCO. Nr. Parsons, OF counsel for the Dc
fence. who had been writing, read bis pro-
duciiou, a, follows: The attention Of c0un-
sci for sharp has been called Ia report
which appeared IN a newspaper igS; evening
in,pu'ing 10 some one wish and effort 10
affect Jurors. We haYC seen in the morn
ing palcrS statement, relating To the same
>ul iCct, some of which mentioned the
naue, OF Jurors who, % iar a. We know,
a1r q position and character 10 preclude the
possibility that anything Of the kind relating
10 them could have occurred. We were
grateful 10 the Court for It's instructions 10
The inrors on Friday last. that il they sup
po>ed that AIRY such approach was made it
would ne at once brought to the attention
of the tourt hope tbtt before adjourn
mcut uuii Monday s,mil9r directions viii
bec,ysn. ANY such impUlat0ls are in
furious 10 Jurors. II a>>umcs The pDSSlbili-
" that improper oycrlureS could be al
dressed 20 them. Il = injurious t. ShirD's
counsel. II assumes that they would coun-
tcuancc such proceedings; hut II f. most in
iurious to sharp. IL tends t. deprive bin
II TINT fair trial which j. hi> right. 1t is
an attack which, however illfOundnd,
works IL, mischief, and investigation is OF
course impossible. IL j. perhaps not
suitable Tor lie 10 make any statement
about our belief Of the rr0uudesS charlc-
ter a. suy charc" which imputc> 10 Sharp
or % hi> counsel any such procedure. Its
tollv would be- a. great rs wrong. We
have come b,re TO Try hi, clse according to
the mode, pr scTibCd ny law. Any inter-
ference hy outside statements is con-
tempt Of court, and Is within its control.
We do not object 10 the u'moS' publicity
Of the proceedings m court. We clnnOt.
ItTE1u,. prevent TIE preiudging Of the
C1.c Ly newspaper rep 'rls. but specific
st.tewtnt> - assumed TACT, 90 beyond The
piiNil,.c ol The pres. We feel called
upon so clll tie atleIt'0n OF ihe Court to
The fist occasion Of The violation OF What
we T. y.Td q, a rule upon The subject. With
thi, st.tCmtnt we suhm the subject in the
hope that no further such occasion will 0c-
cur, and la lcii1ncc UD1n The sense OF in,
bcr OF the Court and oi The learned Dis
trict Attorney 10 pr1tsc the Just right, Of
sharp 10 fair and impariill trial nov and
here OF Ibis most serious accusation.
Nr. Marine sud that Is public prose-
UiOT ie must make some response. CJun-
sci bad read N The Court bis views. The
difficulty = tnlt the stat ,meut- are founded
on the fact. In the cl>e oi one juror HhO
hsd conferred win me- [ am personally
aware Il the iact t11. be ms been an
pIoacEed. have not yct decided to lay
the matter before me Court aud proceed
upon tie Information which diye received
in ny official capacity
Mr.. Parsons replied tblt pc api his e.
counsel had definite Instructions from
their ci:ent b ask for >pec.d charges that
they may be met in open cout. lnuendocs
TO influence he jury and prejudice Shsrp's
ca.e will not DO. These cllr-cS Sh0ad
come in succinct form. arp'- case i a
difficult one IN any event, and 10 should
not hc prjudiccd 10y .uch statements Of
assumed facts. They Should bee put in The
form % afhdayiis 80 ihh we can meet
them.
Nj. MARITIME arose and said that while be
nd not intended 10 pm. the miiter on Ie-
cord hc proposed 10 do so now.
Mr.. Parsons objected, but The District
Attorney continued: these matters are
lot ucw 10 the Court or counsel. !
have told the counsel for the de-
fence iu nearly every lp-iapcr. The
mi ease was that Of George Rnppl, VINO
Informed ne jh,t Dee bad 'ccu approached
and ttlu That 10 would h' for hl- Interest to
stand cut ioT sharp. Later stranger
,1mc 90 me aud informed me thit smith,
who occupied The ttird seat IN the box, had
been approached. Tbs stranger slij his
name was Eayn1ni, hDt-hu.lder at
Green Point. lie said thli man named
Iyncb. an cuployt II the Christopher
street and Tenthaye:ue railway, came T.
Lim and said: You know smith He
live, over YOUR way. see bin and get him
10 stand ont for the old man Raymond
-sld ih.t he could not sec smith. aud
that Dc was not The kind OF man
o. Pc oprroachcd. rLi, Lynch /, a great
FREUD Of sharp. sequel: S ui.b va, chal-
lcue,j IS tue prosecution next day. The
next ease W. tlat OF Juror sutton, who
occupied seat No. for several DAYS. lie
w cra!.en-ed by the defence. AMI after
WarG, Cuu-id pa n his du.y % iGform me
WITTY. 1uc day before b. Ws~ challenged
e. ..id tul' De- va, approached bv MN,
whose name be- would not discl0Se, who
a.lel him WhUhr b" VT, 'ur iLe defence
CT the people. De WIS toll That 20 would
ic for his interest d stand out ana
hold tie jury for the defence. tie
told men not to taik with him a'Out the
case. ~ De was instructed not 10 discuss II
~ the Court. TIL, man said II he ddn't
agree 10 stand for The defence be would DE
challenged the IeXt d1v. lie wa 50 chll-
lenecd. The ease Of KibnWeiler your
Honor /. familiar with. lie received scve-
rlI ANONYMOUS letters which hr would not
communicate 20 your Honor or myself and
fen that be could net slt as juror under
such Circumstances.
These matters should not have had
,proad upon record had il not been for the
invitation OF counsel. | do not charge
these improper acts upon tine defendant or
gry individual, but an ready 10 submit
rrOof,, have witnts>c, bTough- into court,
sld have their testimony recorded under
oath. lave 30 ldel that counsel had any
lCeaoftle,c transactions. but they came 10
mcir my official cauaclty, and Il was my duty
o. consider them. What would the people
10y II / should disregard such important
matters when brought 10 ny knowledge!
They would think me deselict IN my duiy.
Wieilcr some OyeT-ze3lOu, friend OF the
dclendsnt j. responsible | DO not know.
But | am glad that II j. now before the
Count for it, consideration.
Mr.. Par.ons objected that !; was not pro-
leIly hClorc the Court on bare statement
unsupported by silidayi's, which hsd been
made sgainst bis earnest protesta'ion and
objection.
Judg, Barrett: 4" Had ] und rstood you
20 object would have stopped him"
Mr.. Parsons: I'VE did object, and asked
hat or exception be noted Ha"c pro
tsRc.'
Judge Barrett: al cannot allow you an
execution under tue ciTcum-tlnces. snall